Hydrogasification process

A process for the production of a methane-containing gas from coal which comprises:

• suspending hot solid particles and carbonaceous coal solids containing volatilizable hydrocarbon constituents in dilute phase in a gas stream containing hydrogen gas in a ratio of from about 3 to about 20 parts by weight of said particles per part of said solids, said particles having a temperature in excess of a minimum hydrogasification temperature of about 1200.degree. F., said carbonaceous solids having a temperature below said minimum hydrogasification temperature, and said particles containing sufficient available heat to raise the temperature of said carbonaceous solids to at least said minimum hydrogasification temperature;
• passing said gas stream containing said particles and said carbonaceous solids through a transfer line hydrogasifier at a pressure of from about 40 to about 1000 psia, the residence time of said carbonaceous solids in said hydrogasifier being limited to a period sufficient for the devolatilization of said carbonaceous solids and for the conversion of from one to about 50 mol percent of the carbon in said carbonaceous solids into methane;
• and
• withdrawing from said hydrogasifier a raw product gas containing methane produced within said hydrogasifier.